A woman who made headlines in relation to the farmers protest is finally out on bail. Dalit labour activist Nodeep Kaur, was arrested on January 12 in New Delhi protesting for labour's rights.
She was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in an attempt to murder case. She spent time in Karnal jail in Haryana and accused the police of sexual assault while in custody but the allegation was denied by authorities.
According to Kaur's lawyer Harinder Deep Singh the court will look at her allegation of illegal confinement by police as well as her medicla records at a later date. "The court has said that there was nothing on record with regards to section 360. Therefore the High Court has ordered bail for Ms Kaur," Mr Bains said. "It is with a restraint that no law and order situation be created. That is the only restriction."
Ms Kaur was arrested over a labour protest demanding higher wages, which coincided with the ongoing farmers' agitation against three new central laws and was also in support with it.
WATCH: EARLIER VIDEO ON NODEEP'S ARREST.
The Kundli border point between Delhi and Haryana is among the many where the protesting farmers have camped up over the past many months. Following arrest, the Muktsar native faced a slew of charges: murder, extortion, theft, rioting, unlawful assembly, extortion, and criminal intimidation. She was later granted bail in two cases of extortion and criminal intimidation.
On Wednesday, the court had adjourned her case upon finding that all her medical reports had not been placed on record by the state.
Her case gained international attention in early February when Meena Harris, niece of US Vice-President Kamala Harris, posted to Twitter about the 23-year-old labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur saying she was arrested, tortured, and sexually assaulted in police custody." Today Harris shared a Twitter post celebrating Kaur's release.
Nodeep Kaur and Disha Ravi, young female activists jailed for supporting the farmer protests in India, were granted bail. I want to believe it's in part because so many people spoke out against the government's silencing dissent. Please stay loud — this fight is far from over.
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) February 26, 2021
Renowned poet Rupi Kaur also tweeted saying she is elated that Kaur has been released. She had been very active on Twitter prior to Kaur's release with the hashtag free Nodeep Kaur.
Nodeep Kaur has been granted bail. ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽 ♥️♥️♥️ https://t.co/zxhcjAmd7A
— rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) February 26, 2021
The Dalit activist's sister, Rajveer Kaur, later alleged that Ms Kaur "has been beaten up in the police station by male staff and has even been sexually assaulted. There are injuries in her private parts. There should be strict action."
Climate activist Disha Rav who was also arrested in India in February shortly after Kaur's arrest over farmers' protest 'toolkit' has also been released.
Photo courtesy of Twitter.